The advice is not aimed at those who have pre-booked park and ride tickets or those within walking distance, but fans with public passes may be turned away. On Friday people being turned away from waterlogged campsites completely clogged the local roads to and from the circuit meaning many failed to arrive in time for the F1 action.

"Silverstone are strongly advising fans with public car park passes for Saturday, not to come to Silverstone tomorrow," read a statement. "Unless spectators have PRE-BOOKED Park and Ride, have a hospitality ticket that includes parking in the centre of the circuit, or are already in local campsites and able to walk to the circuit, Silverstone strongly advises that you do not attend the qualifying day of the British Grand Prix.

"Silverstone has had to take this action due to the fact that 50% of the public car parks have been lost, due to the severe weather conditions over the last weeks and, in particularly, the last 36 hours. Silverstone is doing everything possible to protect and preserve as many of the car parks ahead of Sunday.

"Fans will be refunded for any unused Friday or Saturday tickets. Full details on how this will be handled will be communicated early next week."

The circuit's managing director Richard Phillips apologised to the fans. "I feel very responsible for it. This is something I have been very proud to do over the years and I feel I could almost cry now."